Bill Goldberg was one of the biggest stars in the wrestling industry during the 1990s. As professional wrestling was experiencing a mainstream boom period, Goldberg was among the stars in the industry that contributed to that success, becoming a proven draw for World Championship Wrestling and establishing himself as a main event star in the organization. Despite Goldberg's initial lack of wrestling experience, going into professional wrestling was arguably the best route for him regarding his potential for stardom and financial success. That says a lot, considering he left the NFL to pursue something he didn't have much experience with.
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Sting And Lex Luger Helped Goldberg Get Into WCW
Although many may not know much about Bill Goldberg's professional football career, the fact that he's a former NFL player is well-known in the wrestling world. In fact, Goldberg taking part in professional sports helped his character in wrestling get taken more seriously, which is beneficial for someone with little wrestling experience going into a mainstream promotion.
After his stint in the NFL didn't pan out as he hoped it would, Goldberg began training in the WCW Power Plant in the late 1990s after getting recommended by Lex Luger and Sting. At the time, Goldberg was not a wrestling fan but saw it as an alternative to his professional football career. Not long after training in the WCW Power Plant, Goldberg made his WCW debut in 1997 and took the entire wrestling organization by storm for the next three and a half years.
Becoming an asset in WCW's success during the wrestling boom period in the late 1990s, Goldberg was the perfect example of a marketable figure in the sports-entertainment world. Despite some discrediting Goldberg's in-ring ability, there's no denying the natural charisma he displayed whenever he was on TV, whether in WCW or WWE. Goldberg came off as an unstoppable force in the ring, as the overall presentation of his character captivated wrestling fans in getting behind him right from the start.
Goldberg had a simple but effective mystique surrounding his character. He's not the best talker or in-ring technician but is someone who can play the part of nearly destroying the opponents put in front of him. Winning with a devastating spear and the jackhammer finishing move in such a short time, part of Goldberg's appeal is the number of wins he's got under his belt, holding an impressive streak of 173 wins in WCW as part of his gimmick. Goldberg's credibility was off the charts as he'd rarely lose when he was in his prime.
Throughout his wrestling career, he's won many world championship titles in both WWE and WCW, establishing a legendary career for himself as he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2018. Goldberg may not have the same wrestling experience as the other wrestlers do, but much like Kurt Angle and Brock Lesnar, he adapted quickly to where he gained overwhelming success.
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Releases And Injuries Caused Goldberg To Leave The NFL
One could only imagine the thought process behind Goldberg's decision to depart from professional football, especially given how lucrative that career route could be for many players. Nonetheless, it was a decision he felt was the right thing to do. While Goldberg making it to the NFL is an impressive accomplishment, as it shows the level of athleticism he possesses, it's understandable why he chose to leave. Wrestling wasn't only one thing that made Goldberg move on from professional football, as many events influenced his decision.
Goldberg played for the Los Angeles Rams and the Atlanta Falcons throughout his NFL run but didn't achieve much on the field that warranted other NFL teams to utilize him. It's worth noting that even after getting signed to the newly-formed Carolina Panthers in 1995, he was released before even playing one game for the franchise. Along with sustaining a pelvis injury, things weren't looking too bright for Goldberg's football career.
However, before his football career came to an end, Goldberg did take part in Canadian football, joining the Sacramento Surge in 1992. The team went on to win the World Bowl that same year, which meant Goldberg became a champion in professional football. In the end, playing professional football worked to his advantage in his successful wrestling career.
